P-model Megaswich - polarity issue

[Spider]

Hi there - first post here, but I've been lurking awhile and think this is a great board. I'm based in England and waiting for  a showcase strat body and neck for my second Warmoth (first was a blond Tele, chambered body with figured maple neck and Fralins and Callaham hardware - great guitar, by the way). For my strat I'm planning to use 2 DiMarzio rail pickups (yes, just two!), possibly a Fast Track 1 and a Pro Track, I'm not sure yet, through a Schaller P-model Megaswith to copy the PRS rotary switching options . I'm ok with guitar electrics, soldering etc. but my question relates to the instructions for installing the P-model megaswitch, that you've got to make sure the pickup polarities are opposite each other, or the outside coils of the pickups must have opposite magnetic polarity. I can't see how this matters, but maybe someone on this board does. My concern is that, unlike normal pickups, if I need to rotate a DiMarzio rail to get opposite polarity, the 'DiMarzio' lettering may end up upside-down, if you see what I mean!

Anybody got any thoughts? :confused4:

 

[tfarny]

Hi, welcome, and where's the pictures of your first tele?  :icon_scratch: :icon_thumright:
Simple explanation - the polarity issue has to do with hum cancelling, since you are splitting the coils in at least two positions (right?) You won't have to worry about flipping your pickups around, but instead make sure you've got your wire colors right - each pickup will have a N+, N-, S+ and S- wire, and if they are not right you will hear it.

That PRS switching  - I had it once and I couldn't hear much if any difference between the inner and outer coils split, and neither one seemed like the best use of two humbuckers to me. Didn't like the volume drop in positions 2 and 4 either, basically I found those two extra spots to be kind of useless. YMMV of course.
Seems like you could incorporate some split + series options, in and out of phase, for more useful variety and more even volume levels as you go through the positions.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

Hmm - as I understand it. If you do not flip the magnet - then your middle positions will be out of phase (not polarity).

Normally you do it this way for ordinary humbuckers:

http://www.highorderpickups.com/Gear_Page_files/Magnet%20Swap%202

I do not know the method for rails-type pickups - sorry.

 

[Dan025]

if you mix 'em with the inners only or the outers only then the optimal option is to have opposite magnetic polarity ans well as opposite winding direction. the opposite winding direction cancels hum and the opposite magnetic polarity ensure that they will be in phase with each other. this should be the case anyhow. but definitely test it. i haven't used dimarzio rails pickups so i don't know if the magnet is easily removable. if for some odd reason they are not the same you may be able to do front/front coils and rear/rear coils. but i agree with tfarny in that the difference in the prs options is small at best and even if you hear the difference i doubt the audience will.

 

[Spider]

Hi there, thanks everyone for your quick responses! Yes, I'll post some pictures of the tele. I know what you mean about the volume drop - I gigged for a few years with a PRS Custom 22 and actually really liked the volume drop and the different sounds - quite usable in many situations. But the rotary switch was always annoying, difficult to turn with sweaty fingers! I'm hoping the 5-way will be easier...

 

[blue313]

Welcome!


Dimarzio magnets in their rails are fairly accessible.  They're just a small bar magnet right on the bottom between the rails, but it's glued in.  It might go with some acetone but I can't say I've tried.

I also agree with these guys.  I found that series/parallel is more useful than splitting with rail types.  The splits just come out a bit weak to be usable IMO.